Compressor regulator



Jan. 10, 1928.

W. RAYMOND COMPRES S OR REGULATOR Filed Sept. 5, 1925 Patented Lien. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VTABD RAYMGBTD, OF EASTON', PENNSYLVANEA, ASE-ZIGNDB. TOUSENNSYLVANIA PUMP & COMPRESSOR COMPANY, OF EASTGE, PERNSYLVANIA, A CORPCRATION OF PENN- V SYLVANIA.

COMPRE$SOR REGULATOR.

Original application filed January 29, 1925, Serial No. 5.544%.

Patent No. 1,575,002, dated March 2, 1926.

Divided and this application filed September 3, 1925. Serial No. 54,274.

This invention relates to compressors and more particularly to regulators therefore adapted to maintain the compressor unloaded until it has acquired substantially normal speed, and also adapted to unload the compressor when a predetermined pressure is reached.

- An object of the present invention is to provide an intake closing valve opened and closed through a centrifugal. member, and also to provide cylinder-relief valves simultaneously operated by the same ,:entrifugal member to unload the compressor;

A further object is to provide a pilot valve actuated by a centrifugal member which, when opened by action of the centrifugal member, admits fluid under pressure simultaneously to the relief valves and to the inlet c losing valve to maintainthe compressor completely unloaded.

Another object of the invention is to provide simultaneous acting means to open cylinder relief valves for a compressor cylinder and to close an inlet valve so that a compressor can be quickly and completely unloaded.

WVith the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

, In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of the specification,-1 have shown my invention embodied in a single cylinder double acting air compressor of medium size and adapted for a belt drive, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the. claims appended to this specification beingrelied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a compres sor provided with the present form of unloader, parts being broken away to more clearly disclose their construction,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the centrifugal element and pilot valve forming a part of this inventiom'and,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the inlet closing valve.

In the above mentioned drawing 11 have shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and HlOdifiOiL trons may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My invention, briefly and in its broadest aspect, comprises the following principal parts: first, an intake closing valve; seo 0nd, fluid actuated means for closing said valve; third, cylinder relief valves; fourth, a centrifugal element rotating during operation of the compressor; fifth, a pilot valve; and sixth, conduits connecting the pilot valve with said inlet closing and relief valves. v

.Referring more indetail to the figures of the drawing, I show a compressor cylinder 10, which, in the embodiment selected for illustration, is of the double acting type. The discharge outlet is shown at 11 and the intake passage at- 12 within which passage is a. valve 13. This intakevalve 13 may be of the type shown in my Patent Noah 510,- 161 granted September 30, 1924. Preferably, however, this valve 13 is of the con struction shown and claimed in Patent 1,-

575,002 granted March 2,1926, of which the present application is a division. Two separate fluid actuated means are provided for closing the valve 13 to unload the compressor. As these means form no part of the present invention, further detail description is not thought to be enecessary. spring 14 within the body portion 15 of this inlet valve normally holdsthe valve 13 in its open position.

Relief valves 16, one of which is shown in section, are provided adjacent each end of the cylinder 10. open position, permit the fluid within the cylinder 10 to be exhausted through them without compression. These valves 16 are also adapted to be moved to their open or unloading position by fluid actuated means.

For this purpose the relief valves 16 are provided with pistons 17 in their lower portions and moved by fluid supplied through conduits 18.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the main shaft 20 of the compressor is provided with a centrifugal element 21. This ineu er 21 is forced normally to a position nearer the axis These valves, when in their ill of rotation of shalt 20 by a spring 91 and, vent further admission of fluid so that the during operation, the rotativo motion of this shaft 20 moves the member 21 away from this position due. to its centrifugal force. This movement ol the centrifugal element 21 is made to open and close a pilot valve this pilot valve 22 controlling lllGOllanism is or may be. similar in every Way to that disclosed in my Patent No. 1,561,886 granted November 17, 1925. further description will be unnecessary. it will be sruncieut to state that during the starting of the cone pressor, the pilot valve will be open to suppl}. discharge pressure trru'nthc receiver by means of a conduit 2 to the conduit 24 leading to the unloaders or reliet valves 16'. The etl'ect of this will 'l)? to open the relief valves 16 and thus maintain the compressor unloaded until substantially normal ope 'ating speed is reached. At this normal. speed of operation the pilot valve 22 closes, permitting the relief valves 1610 close and the compressor continues its normal operation.

Simultaneously with the opening of the relief valves 16 by fluid pressure supplied through conduit 24 the inlet valve 13 is also closed. By means o'l' a branch conduit 25, fluid under pressure is admitted to a point 26 within the head portion 2701? this valve 13. This forces the piston 28 against the valve member 13 and moves it, to its cl'osedposition against the valve seat 30. The compressor will therefore be completely unloaded so long as pressure exists in. the conduit 24. Prefe 'ably, and as shown in Fig. 1, a small receiver 31 is'inserted' in the conduit 24 to increase the amount of fluid in this conduit. As the pilot valve 22, is providedivith a small. lea]: port 88, the small receiver 31 maintains pressure vvithin the conduit 24 for only a short interval of time after the pilot valve 22 is opened. This permits the compressor to acquire full normal speed before the Working load is finally put on the compressor.

The inlet valve 13 in addition to the actuating: means described above be provided With a. conduit 84 extending; from the compressor discharge pipe so that the inlet valve 13 will be closed automatically when the receiver pressure is above a. predetermined limit. As this operation of the valve 13 is similar in every vvay to the operation described in the above mentioned Patent 1,575.002; it not thought. that furtherdescription Wlll be necessary. The conduit 34 enters the valve casing 13 above .1 diaphragm 40:

In operatiom as the compressor starts from rest with pressure within: its receiver, the relief valves 16 exhaust the'fluid Within the cylinder and, as the speed is slow, but small relief valves 16 are required. Before the compressor has acquired appreciable speed, the'inlet valve 13 has closed to preprcssure in the intake is reduced below at mosphere. As soon as substantially normal speed has been acquired, the fluid Within the conduits 24-. 1.8 and. ispermitted to-lealr out through port 33, thus permitting the relieli va ves 16 to close and the inlet valve 13 toopein llithin an extension formed on the inlet valve casing 15 is a spring 37, the pressure of which detern'iiues that at which lluid withinconduit will close the inlet valve 13. By means ol a screw 38 the pressure exerted by spring 87 may be Widely varied. (lac end or the spring 371 bears against diaphragm 4L0 movement of which admits fluid tl rom conduit 34% to the. space above the piston 28.

la addition to actuating; the unloading devices. fluid pressure Within conduit 24h may be admitted by conduit 18 to control a valve in the Water circulating pipe 36. this valve the circulation of cooling Water is discontinued when the compressor is: un loaded.

W'hat I claim is:

l. A regulator for a compressor comprising in combinatimr, a centrifugal element adapted to be. rotated during operation; of the compressor, an inlet closing valve. a cylinder relief valve,*meanscontrolledby movement o'l said element to. simultaneously close said inlet closing valve and Open said reliefvalve; means to operate the: inlet. closing valve independentlytot. said reliei valve, and means to permit simultaneous opening oisaid inlet closing valve and closing of said cylinder reliei valves.

2. A regulator for a compressor comprising in combinatiom a centrifugal element adapted to bemtated during operation of the compressor, an inlet closing'valve, cylinder relief valve fluid pressure means controlled by movement o't said element to simultaneously clos said inlet closing, valve and open said relief valve, meansito operate the inlet closing valve independently of said relieli valve, and means to permit sii'nultaneous opening of said. inlet closing, valve and closing oli said cylinder relief valves.

3. i l: regulator for a compressor comprising in combination. a centri'tugal clement adapted to be rotated during operation of the compressor, a. pilot valve openedand closed by mo ement of said centrifugal element, cylinder relief valve. an inlet closing, *alve, fluid; pressure conduits extondinn from said pilot valve to said relief and intake closing valves whereby said valves may be operated by said fluid? pressure means, and independent means for closing; said inlet closing valve.

4. A regulator for acompressor comprising in combination, a centrifugal element adapted to be rotated during operation of the compressor, a pilot valve opened and closed by movement of said centrifugal element, a cylinder relief valve, an inlet closing valve, fluid pressure conduits extending from said pilot valve to saidrelief and inlet closing valves whereby said valves may be operated by said fluid pressure means, and independent fluid pressure operated means for closing said inlet closing valve when the pressure of fluid compressed exceeds a predetermined amount.

5. A regulator for a compressor comprising in combination, a centrifugal element adapted to be rotated during operation of the compressor, a pilot valve opened and closed by movement of said centrifugal element,

a cylinder relief valve, an inlet closing valve, fluid pressure conduits extending from said pilot valve to said relief and inlet closing valves whereby said valves may be operated by said fluid pressure means, independent fluid pressure operated means for closing said inlet closing valve when the pressure of fluid compressed exceeds a predetermined amount, and means permitting adjustment of the pressures at which said inlet closing valve may operate by said controlling means.

In testimony whereof, I hereto afiix my signature.

WARD RAYMOND- 

